Chelsea frustrated by defiant James

Going nowhere: Danny Mills stands up to Damien Duff

By Henry Winter

12:01AM GMT 07 Feb 2005

Chelsea (0) 0 Man City (0) 0

Chelsea drop points once in a Blue Moon, yet they were again frustrated by Manchester City yesterday. Having lost at Eastlands earlier in the season, Jose Mourinho's Premiership pacesetters were held at Stamford Bridge by Kevin Keegan's well-organised, well-motivated side, for whom David James was the model of athletic defiance in goal.

Mourinho was slightly dismissive of City's sweat-stained efforts, unfairly so as Keegan's visitors brimmed with resilience and intelligence, particularly in central midfield, central defence and between the posts. "One team tried to win and couldn't while the other tried for a point and got one," reflected Mourinho, whose team now lie nine points ahead of Manchester United.

"This was an undeserved result. City fought a lot, defended a lot, had a great keeper, were lucky and got a point. But we still have a nine-point lead and I don't know any team in Europe with a nine-point lead. Not in Spain, Italy or Germany." Do not mention throwing away nine-point leads too loudly in front of Keegan.

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City's manager did observe that "Chelsea will probably win the championship," but urged Mourinho to adopt a touch of humility. "Jose Mourinho has been great for English football," Keegan said. "Manchester United and Arsenal winning everything was getting boring - for me. What Mourinho has to learn to do is to give credit to other teams."

The arrogance that can grip parts of the Bridge - caution after years of title disappointment colours others - was reflected on the back of the shirt of a Chelsea fan standing close to Mourinho in the dug-out. "Champions - it's only a matter of time," read the shirt. Meanwhile, City supporters close to Mourinho were castigating the Portuguese for his fashion sense. "That coat's from Matalan," chanted the visitors.

What Mourinho most lacked yesterday was the pacy, prolific Arjen Robben, who was hobbling around the Bridge on crutches. The statistics speak - make that scream - volumes. In 16 games with the Dutchman, Chelsea have scored 41 times. In 10 matches without him, Mourinho's men have netted only eight times. "Robben is a magnificent player and you always miss that," said Mourinho, who is still waiting to find out whether the Dutchman has broken his foot.

Robben's understudy, Mateja Kezman, should have been cautioned for a dive in the opening minutes. James then began displaying his enduring excellence, saving superbly from Kezman and Frank Lampard. As the game wore on, James grew even greater in stature, brilliantly blocking a low Lampard free-kick with his legs. Then, to the disbelief of the Bridge, James somehow flung himself to his right to claw away a meaty Lampard strike. "When I saw it was Lampard pulling the trigger, I thought "Oh no," Keegan said. "Lampard can't miss at the moment but for a big man like James to get down so quickly was fantastic."

James was marvellous, yet he was well protected by the outstanding Richard Dunne and Sylvain Distin. "We have taken a lot more pride in our defending this season," said Dunne, who has taken a lot more pride in his career. Danny Mills and Ben Thatcher were the models of commitment at full-back, while Joey Barton and Paul Bosvelt completely disrupted Chelsea's usual central creative sources. Lampard probably arrived home last night to find Barton waiting in his front garden.

Admittedly, the diminutive City winger did sometimes disappear behind huge divots, but the could be spotted racing behind Mourinho's full-backs. The England international even popped up on the left, which will have interested the watching Sven-Goran Eriksson, and whipped in a low ball that Fowler headed wide. "We didn't just come here and park our bus in front of our goal," smiled Keegan.